Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding

A Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding is always an amazing idea in my book. It's very easy to plan for an intimate wedding or elopement there. Furthermore, that Santa Barbara courthouse is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.

Below, I'll include everything you need to know about having planning a Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding in 2023!

Steps to Have a Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding

STEP 1: Select Your Guest Count

This is the first step because it will determine what spaces you can use at the Santa Barbara Courthouse for your wedding ceremony.

STEP 2: Select the Space for Your Ceremony (Based on Your Guest Count!)

(2 - 15 People): Civil Ceremony at a Free Location at the Courthouse

If you're having a Santa Barbara elopement with 2-15 people (including vendors), you'll be having a Santa Barbara courthouse civil ceremony. With this option, a county clerk would perform the ceremony OR you can choose to bring in your own officiant (usually it's a family member or friend who gets licensed as an officiant online). You can make your reservation for your Santa Barbara civil ceremony HERE.

Locations for Your Santa Barbara Courthouse Elopement:

The Santa Barbara Courthouse allows 6 suitable locations for your wedding ceremony. These are free of charge and primarily along the Anacapa and Figueroa Street lawn areas. These locations are non-reservable and provide a space for small wedding parties with the architectural treasure of the Courthouse buildings and landscaping as a backdrop.

How Much Does this Cost?

The Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding cost for a civil ceremony under 15 people is between $231 -$238, not including vendors, such as photography, hair/makeup artist, florist, etc.

Here's the breakdown:

Ceremony Appointment Reservation: $23 (this will be paid in advance to hold a time slot)

Marriage License: $104 (A confidential license is $111) You can apply for your marriage license here.

Ceremony Fee: $104

(15 - 100 People): The Mural Room Ceremony

If your guest count is 15 - 100 people, a reservation must be made for the Mural Room.

Mural Room Details: The mural room costs $600 to use and is available to rent for both elopements and larger ceremonies. It provides comfortable seating for up to 100 guests and is the only indoor option for your ceremony!

(100 - 250 People): The Exterior Gardens Ceremony

If you're having over 100 guests, the Exterior Gardens will need to be reserved.

Exterior Gardens Details: The Exterior Gardens is $1,200 to reserve and consists of 5 spaces: The Sunken Garden, Palm Terrace, Fiesta Stage, Bird of Paradise, and Rotunda Lawn. These spaces are all reserved as one. The maximum capacity is 250. If you're planning on renting this space, I 100% recommend working with a wedding planner as chairs will need to be brought in and then removed for your ceremony in order to seat your guests.

STEP 3: Select Your Budget

Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding Cost

Your total Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding cost will depend on your guest count, which then influences which space you'll need to rent. Regardless of your guest count, there will be a fixed cost of $231 -$238 to pay for your marriage license, ceremony appointment reservation, and ceremony fee.

Fixed Costs:

**You'll need to pay these regardless of your guest count.

Ceremony Appointment Reservation: $23 (this will be paid in advance to hold a time slot)

Marriage License: $104 (A confidential license is $111)

Ceremony Fee: $104

Variable Costs Based on Your Guest Count:

Civil Ceremony Under 15 People (Including Vendors): Free

15 - 100 People Ceremony: $600 In order to reserve the Mural Room.

100 - 250 People Ceremony: $1,200 in order to reserve the Exterior Gardens.

Variable Costs Based on Your Vendors:

Photography Coverage: $1,550 - $7,500 depending on whether it's 2 hours vs full day coverage.

Florals: $200 - $10,000 depending on whether it's an elopement bride bouquet vs a ceremony arch, reception floral decor, etc.

Hair/Makeup: $450 - $2,000: Depending if it's hair/makeup just for one person vs a wedding party

STEP 4: Select Your Wedding Date / Time

If you're having a Santa Barbara elopement, I highly recommend eloping on a Monday -Thursday to avoid crowds. Weekends can get super crowded at the Santa Barbara Courthouse with several wedding parties using it as their location to take portraits.

When is the Best Time to Have My Ceremony at the Santa Barbara Courthouse?

As far as the best time for Santa Barbara Courthouse weddings, it's one of the two options:

• Before 11 am because the sun won't be as harsh yet
• Within 2.5 hours before the sun sets to take advantage of the golden hour.

STEP 5: Make Your Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding Appointment!

Once you decide on your date, make sure to make your reservation for your Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding appointment here. Remember, your guest count will dictate which areas you can reserve for your Santa Barbara Courthouse elopement or wedding!

STEP 6: Secure Your Marriage License

You can apply for your Santa Barbara marriage license here. The marriage license currently costs $104. You can secure your license up to 90 days before the ceremony date and you DO NOT have to be a California or United States resident to secure this license.

IMPORTANT: Keep in mind you'll have to have your ceremony within 90 days of getting your license. An officiant will be needed for the ceremony and to legalize everything by the signing the license right after the ceremony. The Santa Barbara courthouse can provide an officiant and perform a civil ceremony if you prefer that over bringing in your own officiant.

STEP 7: Book Your Vendors for Your Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding!

Vendors for Santa Barbara Courthouse weddings or elopements typically include the following:

• An officiant
• Your photographer
• A florist for your bouquet
• Hair and Makeup Artist

Interested in Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding photos? Feel free to reach me below!

STEP 8: Organize Everything You Need to Bring

What do I need for a Courthouse Wedding in Santa Barbara?

1. A valid form of ID (drivers license or passport)
2. For You & Your Partner: full Names, address, date & place of birth
3. Names & birth places for each of your parents, including your mother’s maiden name
4. Payment
5. Witness (this person also need to bring his or her ID). The Santa Barbara Courthouse can provide a witness if needed! Note: If you're doing a confidential license, a witness isn't needed. A confidential license: $111 instead of $104.
6. Your ring and vows
7. Your closest loved ones or just the two of you
8. A photographer to document all of the magic!

STEP 9: Make Plans for After Your Ceremony

For example, if you're having an intimate Santa Barbara Courthouse elopement, you may want to make dinner reservations at a restaurant. Or, if you're having a larger Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding, you may want to hold a reception party at a nearby venue!

Amazing Restaurants for an Intimate Dinner Reception

• Mesa Verde
• Los Agaves
• Villa Wine Bar & Kitchen
• Brophy Bros (Best Seafood Ever!)
• Convivo
• Santo Mezcal

Santa Barbara Wedding Venues for Receptions Post Ceremony

These wedding venues are perfect to hold a reception party after your ceremony at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse wedding.

Whispering Rose Ranch

This Santa Barbara wedding venue is SO stunning. It includes a 120 year old cottage covered in roses, as well a beautiful barn. If there is one word I’d use to describe this venue, it would be “romantic.” It makes you feel like you’re in the English countryside, surrounded by large trees, roses, stone, and at night – an exquisite starry sky. This is the perfect venue for a Santa Barbara elopement or intimate wedding.

Mattei’s Tavern

I am drawn to this Santa Barbara wedding location because it has a quirky element that sets it apart from the others. As the name discloses, this venue. is an actual tavern. With that comes exquisite craftsman structures and an old west experience.

Canary Hotel

I love this venue because it makes you feel like you’re in Santa Barbara, as well as abroad – perhaps in Greece or Spain. It has a Mediterranean style and panoramic views of both the ocean & mountains.

The ceremony and reception could take place on their amazing rooftop. Since this is a hotel, guests could stay there after the event, offering ease and convenience. This is a Santa Barbara wedding venue with an ocean view.

More Santa Barbara Wedding Venues

For more options, I recommend looking at my comprehensive list of Santa Barbara Wedding venues below:

Santa Barbara Wedding Venues Complete List

STEP 10: Reserve Accommodations if You’re Traveling

If you're coming from out of town, here are some accommodations I recommend:

• Kimpton Canary Hotel
• Palihouse Hotel Santa Barbara
• Harbor House Inn - LOVE this place because the rooms come with kitchens and outdoor patios / it's also walking distance from the ocean
• Simpson House Inn
• Chesire Catt Inn - These cottages are the cutest

These hotels are all really close to the courthouse and to various restaurants!

Crucial Info for a Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding

Santa Barbara Courthouse Ceremony Rules

The following rules apply to all Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding ceremonies, whether they be small and intimate or large.

• No amplified sound, but soft acoustic music would be permitted
• All chairs and equipment are to be hand carried to wedding site.
• No rice, confetti, flower petals, bird seed or open flames are permitted.
• Wedding rehearsals are not included with a wedding reservation.
• Taping off or coning any area of Courthouse Grounds is not permitted.
• Food or beverages are not allowed for ceremonies. Water bottles are permitted in exterior venues only (not in Mural Room), and must be disposed of properly.
• Stay out of planting beds

How to Get to the Santa Barbara Courthouse

Where is the Santa Barbara Courthouse? 

The official address is 1100 Anacapa Street. The building and gardens cover a full block between Anacapa St., Santa Barbara St., Anapamu St. and Figueroa St.  The Clerk-Recorder's office is on the north-west corner at Anacapa and Anapamu.

Where do I park for the Courthouse?

Directly across the street from the Anacapa St. entrance is a four level parking garage - 75 minutes free and a dollar and a half ($1.50) an hour after that.

The History of Santa Barbara Courthouse

The City of Santa Barbara realized the importance of preserving its historic buildings earlier than most American cities. Due to too this, the original Spanish Colonia structures still exist throughout the city, making it one of the most unique places to wander through.

There are people from all over the world who choose to have a Santa Barbara Courthouse wedding...and for good reason. The Spanish architecture, gorgeous light sweeping through the hallways, and exquisite details all make it one of the most beautiful places to get married at.

Preview of a Santa Barbara Courthouse Civil Ceremony

Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding Photographer

I'd be honored to document your Santa Barbara Courthouse elopement or larger wedding ceremony. As my as my photography style, I'd say its: ethereal, heartfelt, and emotion driven.

I love the combination of leveraging the best light to my advantage in order to give images that soft & dreamy look, WHILE also focusing on more nuanced moments filled with sincerity and emotion.

If you'd like to schedule a time to chat more about Santa Barbara wedding, please feel free to reach me below!

GET IN TOUCH!